Wyoming's Brian Campbell holds his own in ARCA event before late-race difficulties at Berlin

Wyoming's Brian Campbell holds his own in ARCA event before late-race difficulties at Berlin

Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press

MARNE -- Brian Campbell expressed joy, frustration, pride and disappointment after Saturday night’s ARCA 200 at the Berlin Raceway.

Yeah, it was quite a night for the Wyoming stock car driver.

Campbell was pleased and proud of the D & B Motorsports team, which hired him to pilot its No. 24 Hantz Group Chevrolet for the race. Campbell set fast time in just his second career start, and he had the lead with 50 laps to go and was pulling away.

However, Campbell spun out on lap 150 while trying to avoid the spinning lapped car of Justin Marks heading into turn one. That pushed Campbell back to 10th place on the restart, and he eventually tangled with Frank Kimmel while trying to fight his way through the pack. Campbell settled for 23rd place.

“We take our Late Models to all the big tracks, and we do well with them,” said Campbell, who made his first ARCA start since finishing third at Toledo Speedway in 2004. “To come up to this level and race against guys who do this for a living was great. We couldn’t do it without sponsors, and they let us run up front with these guys.

“It started out with lapped cars not getting out of the way. I know they are all racing for position. But we were the leaders and we were coming and they have to get out of the way.”

Joey Coulter of Miami Springs, Fla., took over the lead when Campbell spun out with 50 laps to go. Coulter went on to beat out Patrick Sheltra and Steve Arpin for his first career ARCA win in 33 career starts.

Don DeWitt of Zeeland, who owns D & B Motorsports, fielded two cars for Saturday’s race. Michael Simko of White Lake finished eighth after starting 11th. It was Simko’s second start of the season. He finished 16th in the Racing For Wildlife 200 on June 11 at Michigan International Speedway.

DeWitt said he is going to start focusing on shorter tracks such as the Berlin half-mile, adding that big tracks cost too much money and are hard on equipment. So, DeWitt put Campbell behind the wheel this weekend in his second car.

“For the first 150 laps, I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that,” DeWitt said. “He had 150 laps on those tires, and he was leading the race, and guys who had new tires couldn’t catch him. What does that tell you? He is a heck of a driver, and that is a heck of a car.

“I am happy. We had the fastest car, and everybody knows it. We got tangled up and that’s what happens. I’m proud of both drivers. Michael did a heck of a job driving."

Here's a recap of weekend winners from around West Michigan and the state:

BERLIN RACEWAY

•ARCA: Joey Coulter
•Late Models: Tim Devos
•Pro Stocks: Tim Devos
•4 Cylinders A: Ryan Hamm
•4 Cylinders B: Jared Lyzenga
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Matt Pickard
•IMCA Modifieds: Chad Wernette
•Pro Trucks: Carl Thayer
•Street Stocks: Mike VanderMark Jr.
•Flinn Stocks: Chance Allen
•Pro Stocks: Chaney Newland
I-96 SPEEDWAY

•SOD Sprints on Dirt: Dustin Daggett
•Modifies: Zach Olger
•Street Stocks: Gary VanderMark
•4 Cylinders: Paul Namey
WINSTON SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: John Grega
•Modifieds: Stan Dodd
•Street Stocks: Chad Weinrick
•Factory Stocks: Spike Grega
•4 Cylinders: Brandon Tramper
•Warriors: Dave Avink
AROUND THE STATE

BUTLER SPEEDWAY

•Winged Sprints: Gregg Dalman
•UMP Modifieds: Brian Przepiora
•Sportsman: Tim Wilber
•Street Stocks: Jarrett Rendel
DIXIE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Johnny VanDoorn
•Auto Value Super Sprints: Ryan Litt
•Street Stocks: Al Boitel Jr.
•Figure 8’s: Ray DerMiner
•Bombers: Chris Wilber
FLAT ROCK SPEEDWAY

•Enduro: Jeff Maran
HARTFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY

•Late Models: Alan Vochaska
•Modifieds: Kurt Allison
•Stock Cars: Ryan Disterheft
•Pro Stocks: Brian Vanlandingham
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY

•ASA Late Model Northern Series: Eddie Hoffman
•Late Models: Tom Hoose
•Pro Stocks: Don Riley
•Pure Stocks: Jimmy Stratton